THE ROAD

McCarthy's highly praised story of a father and son on the run in a postapocalyptic America is compelling and unsettling. Rupert Degas’s narration hits a rhythm and stride that drive the novel forward, engrossing the listener and keeping the stark setting in high relief. He ably portrays the purity and innocence of the boy and the desperation of the father who aims to protect him from a new and threatening world. The road is long as the pair dig through rubble and garbage to survive. Listeners may be tempted to turn away from the brutal reality painted by McCarthy, but Degas will keep them thoroughly engaged. L.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2009]